Becoming Led Zeppelin - Movie Review

The film chronicles the journey of Led Zeppelin as well as the journey each of its members took from their youth: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. First, it looks at their early efforts in the pulsating arena of 1960s rock before exploring how, more or less by chance, they became one of the world’s most famous rock bands. It then tacks on their rise to fame in the early 1970s. Rich with rare archival interviews and new conversations with surviving band members, this feature-length film also features an array of performance footage that brings their storied past to life. Becoming Led Zeppelin is essentially about the pursuit of musical greatness and the bloody passion that drove the band members. This feels reverential, but authentic, when celebrating the geniuses on screen while providing insight into their battles and victories. This tone works perfectly well against the nostalgic 1960s backdrop, painting a vivid tapestry of rock n roll history,

It’s not acting; it’s a documentary and the onus is on authenticity of the featured subjects. Stirring interviews with Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones give entertaining anecdotes and reflections with palpable passion and honesty. This is injected with warmth and humor thanks to archival footage of the late or legendary John Bonham, who reminds fans of his enduring legacy, and Bernard MacMahons direction is a careful balance between archival footage and present day interviews with a sharp, well earned narrative style. As expected, the documentary is definitely a treat to the ears. It boasts an outstanding sound track featuring all the classic Led Zeppelin tracks that encapsulates the spirit of their revolution and their impact in the world of rock music. The documentary works so well with the music: The music complements it magnificently, talking up emotions and sucking people into the bands world, and the films visual storytelling stands out, constructing some idea of time and place through expertly cut footage and expertly cut scenes. Intimacy and grandeur are balanced while still honoring iconic moments and maintaining a pleasant, consistent feeling narrative.

Archival and reacreation material are expertly combined to imaginatively illustrate 1960s and early 1970s cultural ethos. From the raw, untamed energy of the band to the eras charm matched in the production designs of the film, the documentary experience is authentic and minimal in special effects. Occasionally we also see some enhanced visuals in musical sequences that give some visual drawn from the contemporary to the whole but not to the point where they overpowered the nostalgic tone it had.

The film editing shows coherence and engagement because it interweaves interviews, performances, and archival footage to form a fluid narrative. Editors timing is such that each fold is engaging, making every minute enthralling.

And the doc, while moving quickly, does not overload the listener with facts. Dialogues in the documentary are insightful and reflective, and the timeline of events is well-distributed so it’s possible to be intimate with each band member’s story.

The events are chronicled well over the timeline, letting the viewer become intimate with each member of the band. While Becoming Led Zeppelin is thorough exploration, there are times where familiar tales are retold to excess, and the focus is on less familiar stories that havent been told often.

Becoming Led Zeppelin triumphs in the music documentary world, celebrating a legendary band in a sincerely respectful manner.

Becoming Led Zeppelin is a great music documentary, at least if you love as much as I do yet things about the band that have not been covered as much as other aspects. This invites the viewer to reminisce about a time, seek some new anecdotes about the rock icons. This film is perfect for long time fans and those embarking on the journey of Led Zeppelin for the first time, providing the perfect emotional history of the band.